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Transforming your office from unhealthy to healthy
Healthcare costs are rising faster than ever before and employers are taking a large hit in their bank accounts for it. Corporations all across America are starting to take action against healthcare costs by transforming their employee's health from unhealthy to healthy.
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Whenever you implement change, no-one is excited at about it except the individuals that decided what the changes would be. In order to successfully implement a wellness program and transform the health of your employees, management must fully support the program. To get your employees to back the program, you must create a sense of urgency. This can come in the form of setting up a 6-week program or a 3-month program where you establish guidelines and rewards for employees that follow the rules. If the employees are able to reach their goals, they will receive some type of reward. Of course in order to get them to participate, the reward must be enticing. Here are some of the most popular rewards to use:
- Cash compensation
- Time off
- Expense-paid vacation
- Gift cards
- Reduced healthcare premiums
You need to have an action plan when you are ready to transform your office. Talk to each of your employees individually and establish some fitness goals. Hire a medical professional to come in and assess the health of your employees and provide advice as to what they can do to improve their health. Hold regular meetings with your employees to find out how they are doing with the program. Implement small rewards along the way to keep people motivated.
Have a vision for the company. For example, if you are currently paying a large percentage of your cash flow to insurance premiums, tell your employees how much you want to decrease this amount by and set a date when the goal must be accomplished. If the employees can reach this goal, offer to return the savings to them in their paychecks and other investments like new equipment that will make their job duties easier.
Once the program is off and running, several employees can lose their motivation to keep doing it when other employees stop doing it or the company stops pushing it. To keep your employees motivated, place information about the wellness program all over the office. Send out regular emails to encourage your employees to keep going. Bring in a personal trainer and surprise your staff with a fitness day. Have the trainer teach them different exercises they can do while they are working and some exercises they can do at home to improve their health. This is a great way to keep them motivated.
Be careful about the foods you serve at your office. Select healthier lunch options for your employees along with healthier snack alternatives. This way they don't have the option of filling up on sugary beverages and sweets that go right to the belly. When you have staff meetings, get rid of the doughnuts and coffee and replace it with juice, fruits, and cheese. By providing employees with healthier food choices, you are showing them your commitment to living a healthier lifestyle and working in a healthier office.
Whenever you implement changes, there will be some setbacks along the way. The trick is to stay positive and motivated and you can help your employees stay motivated. They will to you for leadership so it is important that you participate in the program as well. Use your goals as an example for everyone else so they can see your progress and your commitment to improving your health. It will be hard work to transform your office, but the savings will be tremendous.
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